MLB Player News

The Twins recalled first baseman Kennys Vargas from Triple-A Rochester following Sunday's game, MLB.com reports.

Vargas struggled to a .248/.295/.362 line with three homers and 10 RBI earlier this season before being sent down to Rochester to try and awaken his bat. He has responded nicely, hitting .327/.414/.551 with three home runs and eight RBI in 49 at-bats.

Vargas is taking the roster spot of shortstop Danny Santana, who was sent down to Rochester in a corresponding move.

Athletics left fielder Mark Canha went 3 for 4 in his team's 7-4 loss to the Red Sox on Sunday.

Canha doubled twice and scored two runs in the game.

For the season, Canha is hitting .245 with seven home runs and 24 RBI in 147 at-bats.

Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez drove in three runs to help lead the Tigers to a 6-4 win over the White Sox on Sunday.

"The last couple of days," manager Brad Ausmus said of Martinez, per MLB.com. "He looked like he was taking the thought process out of it and just seeing it and hitting it."

Martinez drove in two of the three runs when he connected off Jeff Samardzija in the sixth inning for a two-run home run. He finished the game 2 for 4 and is now batting .258 on the season.

"Unfortunately we have an off day [Monday]," Martinez said, per the Detroit Free Press. "I kind of wish we were playing."

Over his last 10 games, Martinez is 11 for 40 with one home run and three RBI.

Tigers designated hitter Yoenis Cespedes went 3 for 4 at the plate to help lead the Tigers to a 6-4 victory over the White Sox on Sunday.

Cespedes hit his eighth home run of the season when he connected off Jeff Samardzija for a solo shot in the sixth inning. He also drove in another run when he singled in the eighth inning, which drove in Ian Kinsler.

Before his three-hit game Sunday, Cespedes had been hitting .265 with one home run and one RBI in his last nine games.

A nagging back continues to plague Indians left fielder Michael Brantley, who was absent from the Sunday lineup for the second time in five games. He hasn't played in left field since Tuesday.

Brantley has a six-game hitting streak, but just one hit in each of those games.

Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera went yard on Saturday for his 12th home run of the season. His fifth-inning home run, a two-run shot, got the scoring started for Detroit and gave the Tigers a 2-0 lead, on their way to a 7-1 victory over the White Sox.

It was Cabrera's only hit of the game, but he has now hit safely in seven of his last eight games. 

"I thought Miggy's home run kind of let everyone breathe a little easier," manager Brad Ausmus said, per MLB.com. "We've been waiting for this for a long time."

After being pulled from Thursday's loss to the Athletics due to an illness, Tigers outfielder Yoenis Cespedes said he expects to play in Friday's game at the Chicago White Sox, reports MLB.com.

"I threw up, and I felt a little lightheaded," Cespedes said. "But I'm good now."

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley returned to the starting lineup as a designated hitter and is batting third Thursday against the Royals, per the Northeast Ohio Media Group. It's the fifth time this season he's serving as a designated hitter.

Brantley has at least a hit in 25 of the last 30 games played. He is hitting .299 (35 for 117) with 12 doubles, four homers, 25 RBI and 20 walks over that span.

Cleveland is an underdog (+100) at Kansas City, per VegasInsider.com.

Tigers outfielder Yoenis Cespedes was pulled after two innings Thursday against the Athletics due to flu-like symptoms. He was replaced in left field in the top of the third inning by Daniel Fields, who made his MLB debut.

Cespedes struck out in his only at-bat Thursday. He came into Thursday batting .279 with two home runs, four doubles and five RBI in his last 17 games.

Indians outfielder Michael Brantley, who has been bothered by a sore back throughout the season, was held out of the starting lineup Wednesday against left-hander Jason Vargas and the Royals.

Brantley is a .320 hitter (24 for 75) against left-handed pitchers this season. He has at least a hit in 25 of the last 30 games played. He is hitting .299 (35 for 117) with 12 doubles, four homers, 25 RBI and 20 walks over that span.